CHAPTER 8: FIRST OFFICIAL DATE

Her eyes were sparkling with joy!

Jade unexpectedly forgot the scene she saw at the souvenir marketplace yesterday when Marcus suddenly joined her for breakfast.

She was smiling and was enjoying the meal at the hotel's cafe. Marcus, on the other hand, noticed the glint in her eyes but he doesn't care at all. The same emotion he saw in her when she was eating alone at the restaurant by the bay was the same sparkle he is seeing right now. Though she looks cute somehow.

"You have any plans today?" He nonchalantly asked, his gaze was on the steak he was eating.

"Uhm, I do have a lot."

Marcus glanced at the woman who was seemingly thinking a lot of things.

"I was thinking to join the island hoppers. I heard they have four beautiful islands here so I want to visit them all. Want to tag along?" she asked the man.

He thought for a few seconds. "No. I have things to do today." he replied.

Tsk! Jade smirked meaningfully. "Another business appointment, I see." She uttered but her eyes were seemingly mocking her own words and Marcus was able to catch that.

"You can say that."

The woman glowered and placed her spoon and fork on both sides of the plate. She wanted to finish her food but she suddenly lost her appetite. Why does the food taste awful all of the sudden? She thought before she looked around the other tables in hope to see a dish she might wanna eat.

"Any problem?" Marcus asked.

"No." she lazily replied. She glanced at her wristwatch before standing up. "I need to go back to the room to prepare my stuffs for my whole day activity." She irritatingly notified the man before she left.

She lost her appetite when a sudden thought crossed her mind. Marcus will definitely spend the day with that woman again.

Dang it! she's not rushing at all since she has two hours left before the meeting time with the other tourists. Oh how she loves to treasure the rare opportunity to stay with the man she loves but she couldn't hide the scowl in her face any longer so she decided to leave him.

"Ahh!" She yelps when she suddenly bumps into someone. She was in daze for a while and wasn't aware about her surroundings not after she bump into someone at the café's door. "I'm sorry I---"

"Doctor elevator?" Her eyes widened when she lifts her head and met the eyes of someone she knew.

"Oh, Jade! It's you! I'm sorry I didn't see you…"

"No, no… It was clearly my fault." she explained. "Going somewhere?"

"Not really. I was just looking for anything to do while I'm here. I'm unexpectedly done with my business early so I have a lot of time before my flight tomorrow.

"Oh, you might wanna tag along! I will be joining some of the tourist later. We'll be visiting some islands here. I heard it was beautiful. Wanna join?"

"Sure. What time?"

"Gathering time at exactly 9am in the lobby. A bus will take us at the dock."

"Oh okay. I'll see you later then. And oh, can I have your number so I can call you about it?"

"Sure." the woman brought out her phone and they exchange numbers.

Meanwhile, Marcus have been watching them from a far while finishing his food. he scoffed when he saw them exchanging numbers before they separate ways.

"Tsk. Looks like you got a new boyfriend, huh. So quick." He was cutting the meat when his phone suddenly rings.

"What is it?" he asked when he accepted the call.

"You do realize that you are on your third day of honeymoon, right?"

"And I'm still here, you see? you should congratulate me for not leaving the island early." Sonny can hear the clashing of the knife and spoon while Marcus was speaking.

"I am about to actually… however, I am staring at a very troublesome picture in front of me right now."

"What do you mean?"'

"You're supposed to spend your days with your new wife and not with your ex. What do you think will happen when this picture reaches your granny, huh? Do you really want to ruin Rachelle's career?"

Marcus stopped for a few seconds.

"Did she sent someone to spy on us?"

"Whether she sent one or not, you should remember that the company is not completely under your care. You only have little power to save your beloved once the reporters learnt about your relationship." He warned. "Your granny still holds most of the power in the company and do you think she'll let this thing slide?"

"So what do you suggest?" he leaned his back on the chair.

Sonny, on the other line, heaved a heavy sigh. "Make every effort to spend some time with her while you are at the island."

"Do I really have to do that?"

"It's your call." Sonny chuckled mockingly. "It's the only way you can counter this picture if things get out of hand soon."

"Fine." he rolled his eyes and stood up quickly. He got no choice but to follow the woman wherever she goes for the next days.

************

Five more minutes to go before the bus arrives in front of the hotel to take the tourists and Jade kept looking at her wristwatch from time to time. Zion had noticed her uneasiness so he asked what's wrong but Jade only gave out a force smile.

So his not really coming. She frowns.

It was exactly 9:15am when the bus stopped at the dock. They all got out from the bus and waited for their group name to be called. There are a lot of tourists on the line after all.

The tour guide was counting the heads but one was seemingly missing. He checked his lists once again then conducted a headcount for the second time. when he confirmed that one is missing, he whispered something to his other fellow crew.

"Oh, he's already here. he said to call him once we're ready to take off." the other guy replied.

"Then tell him to come over now." the head guide hissed annoyingly.

After a few more minutes, the joiners started to board the ship.

"Are you the last passenger?" the chief asked the man who just arrived, wearing a luxurious shade.

"I think so." He showed him his ticket.

Jade suddenly halted when she heard a familiar voice so she turns around to confirm her guess.

"Marcus!" she excitedly run towards the man wearing an all-black outfit. "I thought you're not coming!"

"I change my mind." he nonchalantly replied. "Aren't you boarding?"

"I am!" she yelped excitingly while matching the man's footsteps towards the ferryboat.

Zion saw how the woman rushes towards the man and he was about to follow her, but he already boarded the boat. The new man looks familiar but he couldn't tell where he saw him. As soon as he gets in, the woman introduced the two to each other.

"Nice to meet, my name is Zion." He politely raised his hand for a handshake.

"Marcus." He replied before taking a seat without shaking his hand. Jade saw all that and looked at the rejected man apologetically.

They all took their seat and Jade was in the middle of the two gentlemen.

Then this is the first official date they will having as a couple! She giggled at the thought of it.

Yeeehhh! First official date!